“If you told us after the Dortmund game we’d have four points from the next two games, I don’t think too many people would have said we would have done that,” Brendan Rodgers
Celtic 3-1 RB Leipzig
Brendan Rodgers admitted that his side’s stunning 3-1 victory over Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig who currently sit 2nd in their domestic league, was his most significant European result as a manager.
The win leaves the Hoops 13th in the new revamped Champions League ahead of clubs like current holders and 15 time winners of the competition Real Madrid, and elite sides such as AC Milan who have equally played four matches.
One more win from Celtic’s remaining four games in Europe’s elite club competition would seal a place in the knockout play-off round ties in February.
“It wasn’t just the result, it was the performance”
Rodgers said, “it wasn’t just the result, it was the performance. We played the game with great charisma and confidence and showed the courage in our pressing. To play to that level, that would definitely be the best one.”
The Irishman has been a key part of Player of the Match Nicolas Kuhn’s transformation which has seen the German winger become directly involved in 18 of Celtic’s goals this season in 16 competitive matches. A quite sensational performance versus his former side stunned Marco Rose’s team whose chances of qualification for the play-off round seem increasingly unlikely.
Fightback from Celtic was admirable
Meanwhile, the fightback from Celtic was admirable. Rarely have the Hoops comeback from a losing position in the Champions League and go onto win. It just does not happen. Until last night. And they did it in style too.
Despite the fast progress in the competition, Rodgers remained calm post-match, “we have to stay humble in our work, we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves.”
He added, “it gives us a real nice confidence. We’ve discovered in the last two games we can be really competitive. It’s a great next step and gives us great encouragement to go and make the play-off stage, but there is still so much to do.”
Club Brugge next at Paradise
In three weeks time, Celtic return to Champions League action against Belgian champions Club Brugge at Paradise. Brendan Rodgers knows that a victory would secure play-off football for his side and double digit matches in the Champions League for the first ever time since UEFA’s revamp of the competition in the early nineties. Exciting times await but the bread and butter of Rugby Park lies ahead for Rodgers’ men on Sunday afternoon.
Conor Spence
Celtic in The Thirties – out now!
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